Date:
9/6/2006
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Marc Schoder
PORTALES—KENW-TV, The PBS television station located at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, has won its first "Telly Award" in the station's history, according to Don Criss, director of production services.
Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award for outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The Telly Awards annually showcase the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world, according to their Website.
ENMU's program, "Conchas Dam," which aired on the PBS station in March, was a documentary on the construction of the dam near Tucumcari in 1935.
According to Criss, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approached KENW about producing the documentary. "They came to us with well-preserved photos and a 70-year-old film that was shot during the period of construction," he said.
Criss and his son, Martin produced and directed the 45-minute documentary. Criss also wrote and read narration.
"The documentary went together well," he said. "Having the footage from that period also made it better."
The documentary also included interviews with two men who worked on the original project. "Both of those gentlemen are now well into their 90's," said Criss.